Vetinerary Assistant Practice Exam

What is a laparotomy?

1. a surgical incision into the abdomen

2. an examination of the esophagus

3. the removal of reproductive organs

4. movement of a limb away from the midline

The correct answer is: a surgical incision into the abdomen

A laparotomy refers specifically to a surgical procedure that involves making an incision into the abdominal cavity. This technique is commonly utilized for diagnostic purposes or to access the abdominal organs for further surgical interventions. The procedure allows veterinarians to directly visualize and examine the organs within the abdomen, as well as to perform surgeries such as removing tumors, repairing internal injuries, or diagnosing conditions based on the visual findings within the cavity. Other options relate to different medical procedures or concepts: examining the esophagus pertains to an endoscopic procedure, while the removal of reproductive organs is known as an ovariohysterectomy or castration, and the movement of a limb away from the midline is referred to as abduction. Each of these is distinct from the definition of laparotomy, which is focused on abdominal surgery.